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Friday, January 31, 2014

People often think of the Victorians as stodgy and repressed. But in the
early part of Victoria’s reign, a better description might be
energetic, inquiring, and multi-talented. England was rising to a
position of world prominence in trade, manufacturing, and colonization.
Their industry and inventiveness was incredible. The worlds of science were opening up in ways never before imagined. The future seemed full
of enormous promise.

Jennifer's novels are never sexually explicit yet contain that tension between her hero and heroine who are attracted to each other. This author has also won the Holt Medallion Award.

She says:

When I was in high school I discovered the romantic suspense
novels of Mary Stewart. I reread them all multiple times. So many of her books
were set in fascinating locales like Greece and France, and I believe they
forever sealed my conviction that romance and adventure go hand in hand. (The
fact that I met my future husband while we were both on an assignment in the
Pacific Northwest naturally confirms this.)

If you enjoy reading historical novels you'll find these on Amazon .com or on Jennifer's website at jenniferdelamere.com

I always write my novels in this intriguing era, but usually the late Victorian 1890s.

Friday, January 24, 2014

My husband and I have a little saying, "If we don't cherish each other who will?"

We have been married for many years and have grown so close to each other. This is for many reasons.

We appreciate each others' differences. We respect and build up each other. We are kind to each other. And invariably when we have disagreements, as all couples do, we make sure to ask each others' forgiveness when we have been wrong.

These deliberate actions cement the bonds of marriage in ways that passion alone never could. Most of all we have discovered that the closer we get to God the closer we come to each other and the more love continues to grow.

The Holy Bible sums this up beautifully. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always, protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.(I Corinthians, chapter 13.)

Friday, January 10, 2014

The story of Asenath has been captured in a fascinating novel by my writer friend, Anna Patricio. Her personal story follows.

When I began writing my debut novel Asenath, my only
end goal was to get it published. Little did I know that God had something else
in store for me.

When I was in the second or so draft of the novel, it
occurred to me to check if there were other novels about Asenath. I did not
want to be writing something too similar to what may have already been
published. But additionally, I was curious. The wife of Joseph is, after all, a
rather obscure Biblical heroine. I did a search online and I came across a Young Adult novella entitled Asenath’s
Tale by Alfred D. Byrd. I was intrigued.
For while this book’s storyline was different from mine, it also contained a
number of astonishing similarities.

I like contacting authors if their books make an impression
on me. So I contacted Mr. Byrd, to express my interest and let him know that
I, too, was writing about this very obscure Biblical female. I was not expecting anything to come out of the
correspondence though. Just the usual “thank you for your interest” and so forth.

Mr. Byrd – who later told me to address him as Al – turned
out to be warm and accommodating from the start. He also expressed interest in
my work-in-progress. We also talked about Biblical re-tellings, Joseph and Asenath
narratives, theology, Egyptology, historical fiction, and writing tactics. So began a friendship based on common interests. Al stood by me as I revised

When the book was released, he cheered for me.

When we met in person, we got along as well as we did online
and over the phone. It was even better than we both expected, in fact. We had
mutual respect for each other, were at ease with each other, and could talk to
each other about just anything. Over time, we realized that the relationship had
progressed to a deeper level. Soon, we were engaged.

Al and I got married in a lovely church that was built in
the early 1900s. The entrance porch was lined with Greco-Roman-inspired
columns. The sanctuary, where the ceremony was held, had colourful stained
glass windows, golden chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and an enormous
pipe organ behind the altar. This was perfect for us, being history lovers. And naturally, we chose a traditional service.

Al wore a dark grey suit commemorating his Confederate
ancestry; though additionally, he is a Civil War enthusiast. My dress was
inspired by Greco-Roman fashions.And our theme song was The
Prayer by Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion.

To commemorate how we met, we requested the minister to incorporate Joseph and Asenath’s story into the ceremony. After
reading the first verse that mentions Asenath, he spoke about how Joseph had
found love after enduring much travails.

The Lord works in mysterious ways. Never in my wildest
dreams did I imagine that through my Bible and writing interests, I would one
day meet the man who would later become my husband.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Here we are all dressed up to attend a friend's wedding. (No wedding pics available yet.)

What
was so special about this wedding? The Rev. Hon. Fred Nile, the leader
of the Australian Christian Democratic Party was married in a wonderful
God-honouring ceremony in the stately old St. Thomas's Anglican Church.
It was attended by family, friends and fellow parliamentarians.

Everyone
rejoiced to see this humble man find happiness again after he lost his
wife a couple of years ago from cancer. Fred shared with us how, before
she died, she advised him to marry someone
who would share the burden of his responsibilities in the rather stressful times of parliamentary debates.

The happy couple at their engagement

Silvana Nero, a school
teacher, had always wanted to serve her community in politics and at a
Christian Democratic Party function, she approached Rev. Nile and asked
what steps she should take to join the CDP. He replied, "You are the
answer to my prayers." Silvana was pleased, believing he was glad to
have another committed recruit, but never realizing Fred had long been
praying for the Lord to lead him to someone who would share in his
chosen way of life.

They dated for a year before their
joyous wedding in December. The couple have a vital interest in Israel,
having visited the Jewish Knesset. And the blowing of the shofars began
the whole proceedings.

It was a beautiful ceremony with
the Pacific Islander Choir leading the singing. And the place
reverberated with the magnificent pipe organ as the congregation sang
How Great Thou Art. Several celebrities were among the guests, which
made it interesting for us to figure out who was who.

There's
no doubt weddings touch us deeply when such solemn vows are made before
God. And every one of us wished the couple God's richest blessings in
their future life together.

A SECRET WEDDING ... and the consequences.

Rita Stella Galieh's novel, Signed Sealed Delivered, is the story of Megan Trevallyn, an English governess who stands accused of a heinous crime.

The cast of characters whose lives entwine with her destiny:Captain Charles Cantrell - her love. Cornelia - his sister-in-law and scheming mistress of the Mayfair mansion. Lieutenant John Stafford - her nemesis.`And Ezra Montefiore - an ardent suitor.

Rita Stella Galieh

About this Blog

It's exciting to trace God-incidences in lives, especially the unique way He leads His own children. He not only directs their paths, but also causes their path to intersect with the one person who will love and cherish them forever. This blog is written to encourage both young and mature women to pray about and wait for that special person God places in their path. Proverbs 3:5-6 holds a definite promise for a joyous and purpose-filled life. Why not share your story with me so I can publish it here? Email me: ritagalieh(at)gmail(dot)com.

Those We Love

They say the world is round,And yet I often think it's square;So many little hurts we getFrom corners here and there.There is one truth in life I've foundWhile journeying east and west,The only folk we really woundAre those we love the best.

The choicest garb,The sweetest grace,Are oft to strangers shown;The careless word,The frowning face,Are given to our own.We flatter those we scarcely know,We please the fleeting guest,And deal full many a thoughtlessBlow to those we love the best.